Chapter 1: The Sweater That Betrayed Her
My mother had just whispered that the person who stole her jewelry was wearing my twelve-year-old daughter's sweater.
And my wife was standing less than three feet away, wearing the exact same sweater.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I looked at Vanessa. Then at my mother. Then back at Vanessa.
"Take off your sweater," I said.
Vanessa blinked.
"Excuse me?""
"Mom said she saw someone wearing Lily's sweater. You're wearing Lily's sweater.""
Vanessa glanced down at the oversized gray hoodie covering her blouse.
Then she laughed.
A short, irritated laugh.
"Marcus, are you seriously accusing me because I'm wearing a sweatshirt?""
"I'm asking you to take it off.""
"Your mother is heavily medicated. She could have seen anything.""
My mother stirred beneath her pale blue blanket.
"Marcus?""
I immediately turned toward her.
"I'm here, Mom.""
Her eyes were barely open. She looked exhausted, but her fingers were gripping the blanket.
"Don't let her...""
Her voice faded.
"Don't let who?"" I asked.
Vanessa stepped between the bed and me.
"That's enough. She's confused.""
I moved around her.
"Mom, what were you trying to tell me?""
My mother swallowed.
"Closet...""
Then her eyes closed again.
I glanced toward the closet.
It was a narrow wooden wardrobe beside the bathroom door. My mother kept her nightgowns, robes, and a few personal belongings inside.
"What about the closet?"" I whispered.
Vanessa grabbed my arm.
"Marcus, stop. You're upsetting her.""
I pulled away.
"Then let me ask her one question.""
"You heard what the doctor said. She needs rest.""
"And I heard what she said.""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
For the first time since I'd known her, I didn't see concern in her eyes.
I saw calculation.
My phone vibrated.
It was a message from my daughter.
*Lily:* Dad, can you come downstairs? I need to tell you something about Vanessa.
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
*Lily:* Please don't tell her I texted you.
My stomach tightened.
I looked at Vanessa.
She was watching me.
"Who is it?"" she asked.
"Nobody.""
She extended her hand.
"Let me see.""
I slipped my phone into my pocket.
"Why?""
"Because you're acting strangely.""
I almost laughed.
My wife had just been implicated in the disappearance of my mother's most treasured possessions, and somehow I was the one acting strangely.
"I'll be back," I said.
Vanessa followed me to the doorway.
"Marcus, don't drag Lily into this. She's already upset.""
I stopped.
"Why would Lily be upset?""
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
I walked downstairs.
Lily was sitting on the bottom step, hugging her knees. Her eyes were red, and she kept looking toward the hallway as if expecting someone to appear.
When she saw me, she stood.
"Dad.""
I crouched in front of her.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?""
She glanced behind me.
"Is Vanessa upstairs?""
"Yes.""
"Can we go somewhere she can't hear us?""
I led her into the laundry room and closed the door.
The washing machine smelled faintly of detergent. A basket of clean towels sat on the dryer.
Lily reached into her backpack and pulled out a small plastic bag.
Inside was a gold watch.
My father's anniversary watch.
The one I'd seen missing from my mother's jewelry box.
I stared at it.
"Lily, where did you get this?""
She shook her head quickly.
"I didn't steal it.""
"I didn't say you did.""
"Vanessa gave it to me.""
My blood went cold.
"What?""
Lily began crying.
"She came into Grandma's room earlier. She told me to put the watch in my backpack because Grandma wanted me to keep it safe.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because she said if I told anyone, Grandma would get upset. And then she said you would think I stole it.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Did you touch anything else?""
"No. I promise.""
"Did Vanessa take the other jewelry?""
Lily hesitated.
Then she nodded.
"I saw her open the little drawers. She put things into her purse.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why didn't you stop her?""
"She told me Grandma had asked her to do it.""
Lily wiped her cheeks.
"Then she made me put on my gray hoodie. She said she spilled something on her blouse and needed something to cover it.""
I looked at the hoodie.
The same gray hoodie Vanessa was wearing upstairs.
"Where is your hoodie now?""
Lily pointed toward her backpack.
"It's there. I brought it because I was scared.""
My phone vibrated again.
A message from Vanessa.
*Come upstairs. We need to discuss Lily's behavior before she makes this worse.*
I read it twice.
Then I looked at my daughter.
"Listen to me. You haven't done anything wrong.""
Lily threw her arms around my neck.
I held her tightly.
But before I could say anything else, she whispered something that made my heart stop.
"Dad, there's something else.""
"What?""
"Vanessa wasn't alone.""
I pulled back.
"Who was with her?""
May you like
Lily looked directly into my eyes.
"Grandma's nurse.""
